Robert Walters 10/12/14
Mr. Lake Marine Studies Mantis Shrimp
Introduction
The Mantis Shrimp also known as the Stomatopod is a crustacean that are predatory crustaceans that live in the shallow waters of tropical and subtropical seas in coral and rock burrows with over 400 species worldwide Mantis Shrimp are very diverse creatures from reproduction to behavior. Some Mantis Shrimp particularly the Peacock Mantis Shrimp which gets its name from its elongated body and its varying colors are also a large help to Coral Reefs. One thing all Mantis Shrimp are known for are its deadly raptorial appendages which it uses to capture or subdue its prey by either smashing it or spearing it the average force…show more content… Stomatopods mating behavior varies between stomatopods some stomatopods species are promiscuous while other stomatopods are monogamous. In the monogamous stomatopod mating society a pair can stay together for as long as twenty years and both male and female stomatopods take care of the eggs. Some stomatopods can lay two clutches of eggs so each parent can take care of their own eggs (http://www.coralscience.org). In the promiscuous stomatopod species the male leaver their coral burrow in search of a female due to the mantis shrimp antisocial behavior the male stomatopod has to trek for some time before finding a female (http://www.blueboard.com). When the male finds the female the male performs a signal to show the female it is prepared or willing to mate. This signal is the male stomatopod waving its rapatorial meri to ensure the female it wants to mate (http://academic.reed.edu). However mating cannot take place unless the female is prepared for mating. If the female signals back then the male enters the female stomatopods burrow and inserts his gonadopods into the female gonadopores. The male in a promiscuous relationship then leaves in search of another burrow (http://academic.reed.edu). The female then lays its eggs together in an adhesive secretion from glands on her thorax (http://www.blueboard.com). The female then carries the bundle of eggs on her front thoracic appendages and constantly cleans it until it hatches. During this brooding process the female stomatopod refrains from eating anything. Finally when the currents are strong enough to transport the stomatopod larvae away the eggs hatch and carry the stomatopod larvae away from the shallow reefs. The life cycle of a stomatopod includes a sequence of stages the egg stage, a series of free-swimming stages, plankton-feeding larval stages; a series of immature (subadult) growth stages; and finally a sexually mature (reproductive) adult